Mar 31, 2011

Look in any bookshop, anywhere, and the chances are you'll find a
section
devoted to 'self-help' titles. These shelves are the domains of
the 'positive
thinking' manuals - modern day guides to the business of living.
Some
of them are bestsellers. Each of these offerings has a slightly
different
slant, but closer examination will reveal common themes: how to
develop
self-esteem; how to cast off pessimism and start thinking 'big';
how to
set goals and then achieve them; how to improve your
relationships. The
basic message running throughout is: change your thinking and
you change
your life. It's a laudable theory, but how far does it go?

In Buddhism, the workings of the mind are elucidated by the
doctrine
called the nine consciousnesses. The first five comprise 'the
senses'
- sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. It is through these
that we
have awareness of the world around us. The sixth is the
conscious mind
which processes the perceptions made by the five senses and
translates
them into judgements about the external world: "That is an
orange."
The seventh consciousness, sometimes called the
mano-consciousness,
equates to the unconscious mind of modern psychology, by dint
of which
we are able to ponder and reflect: "Because this is an orange
it
must be full of vitamin C and therefore be good for me."

The eighth level of consciousness is known as the karma
storehouse,
or alaya consciousness. It is here that the sum total of all
our actions
- the effects of causes made by thought, word and deed - is
stored.
This in turn gives rise to the blueprint of our individual
lives, or
karma, which carries within it the propensity for our own
particular
ways of thinking, speaking and doing to become ever more
defined.

Beyond this is the ninth consciousness, the Buddha state - the
highest
consciousness attainable and a boundless source of wisdom,
compassion
and courage. This state forms the basis of all spiritual
functions and
is also known as the amala-consciousness - amala meaning pure
and undefiled
-, which remains forever free from any karmic impurities.
Nichiren Daishonin
explains that we express this state by chanting
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

As can often be seen from the above explanation, all
conscious thought
- be it positive or negative - takes place at the sixth and
seventh
levels of consciousness. It follows, therefore, that even the
most valiant
of mental efforts to upgrade the quality of one's thinking
will still
be limited by the constraints imposed by one's karma. We
cannot reach
the deepest level of our inner selves by conscious thought.
Although
'positive thinking' no doubt helps in developing various
skills in life,
we cannot change karma, the eighth consciousness, with our
thoughts.

Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon enables us to
draw on
the amala-consciousness, or as we more commonly call it,
Buddhahood.

When we do this, we are no longer at the mercy of the many
distorted
views, which are part and parcel of our karma; instead, we can
see everything
from a much broader perspective than has hitherto been
possible. As
Nichiren Daishonin so graphically expresses it:

"Fire can be produced by a stone taken from the bottom of a
river,
and a candle can light up a place that has been dark for
billions of
years. If even the most ordinary things of this world are such
wonders,
then how much more wondrous is the power of the Mystic Law."
(MW,
Vol.1, p. 223)

The fundamental purpose of practicing Buddhism is to reveal
Buddhahood
and to relieve the sufferings of others by sharing the
Buddha's wisdom
with them. It is not simply a means to achieve an improvement
in one's
personal circumstances. Buddhism concerns itself with the
fundamental
dynamic between ourselves and the rest of the universe, and
maximizing
the potential for creating happy, fulfilling lives within that
dynamic.

When we truly understand this, we gain sight of the bigger
picture
and are able to avoid the pitfall of becoming obsessed by our
wishes
and wants. Instead, we live in the knowledge that 'actual
proof' in
our circumstances will show itself as a natural result of our
profound
inner change.

In short, with the wisdom of the Buddha, we can see what
actions needs
to be taken and when to take it; with the courage of the
Buddha we will
take that action; and with the compassion of the Buddha, that
action
will encompass the greatest good for everybody and everything
concerned.

True freedom is ours only when we act from a perspective free
from
karmic influences. By making this our prerogative through
chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
to the Gohonzon, we begin to establish an inner core of unshakable
happiness. Furthermore, we gain the conviction that we will,
in this
lifetime, overcome our negative karma, develop the attributes
of the
Buddha, and achieve the fulfillment of all our prayers.

Mar 29, 2011

“I had to ask myself whether I truly believed in the power of my
prayer
to break through my own fears and insecurities.”

I want to unconditionally love myself. I want to embrace every part
of me.
I want to believe, without reservation, that my life is
Nam-myohorenge-kyo itself.
My challenge is to believe these things amidst the realities of my
daily life.
It is a struggle, I believe, all of us face every day.

As I prepared to write this article, my deepest insecurities and
fears emerged.
I wondered: “What could I say that will inspire someone?” I bathed
in those feelings; they enveloped me. As a consequence, I could not
write a
single word. I turned to prayer, chanting to be able to write an
article that
would encourage others and help them break through the deadlocks in
their lives.
But my doubts lingered. I fought them continuously, during the day
whenever
they arose, as well as when I sat chanting in front of the Gohonzon.
In spite
of how I was feeling, I poured my entire life into encouraging others
during
meetings and guidance sessions. I told them that, with faith, they had
the power
to do anything. In the meantime, I remained stuck.

It was as a result of my fervent prayer that I realized I would never
be able
to write anything as long as I permitted myself to hold on to the
doubt in my
ability to write an article that would encourage others. I turned to
“Reply
to Kyo’o,” one of my favorite writings by Nichiren Daishonin. In
it, the Daishonin tells us: “Believe in this mandala with all your
heart.
Nam-myohorenge-kyo is like the roar of a lion. What sickness can
therefore be
an obstacle?” (The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, p. 412).

I had to ask myself whether I truly believed in the power of my
prayer to break
through my own fears and insecurities. I prayed sincerely to trust
what Nichiren
Daishonin was telling me. I also prayed to have unshakeable confidence
that,
with prayer as my foundation, I could overcome my doubts and write an
inspiring
article. My doubt, however, did not disappear instantly. There were
times while
I was chanting that it felt as if every cell in my body wanted to run
away.
The television was calling me. The telephone was ringing. I had chores
to do.
I returned to “Reply to Kyo’o”: “A sword is useless
in the hands of a coward. The mighty sword of the Lotus Sutra must be
wielded
by one courageous in faith. Then one will be as strong as a demon
armed with
an iron staff. I, Nichiren, have inscribed my life in sumi ink, so
believe in
the Gohonzon with your whole heart” (WND, 412).

This was my answer. I had to muster the courage to confront my fear.
No matter
how painful my current situation, I could not back down. For days, I
continued
to challenge my insecurity with prayer while immersing myself in
activities
to help others overcome their problems. Then, the day before I was
scheduled
to submit my article, I had my breakthrough. I had finally understood
why I
had been going through so much agony. The issue wasn’t the article. I
needed to confront my own doubt, my own lack of belief in my inherent
power
to challenge and win over my fears and insecurities.

Whether we are writing an article, facing illness, being terminated
from a
job or looking for our soul mate, the process is the same. We must
transform
our weaknesses into strengths. We must face our suffering and triumph
over it.
This experience became the catalyst for me to explain how one uses
faith to
transform challenging daily life situations into an uncompromising
opportunity
for growth. This, I believe, is the essence of the concept of the
oneness of
good and evil.

Nichiren Buddhism makes it clear that everything and everyone in life
has both
a good and an evil side. I know that some people have an immediate
negative
response to the word evil. Evil also is synonymous with the words
selfishness
and self-centeredness. Life at every moment is a battle between these
two opposing
forces of good and evil. In other words, when we manifest our
Buddhahood, it
does not mean that our self-centeredness goes away. Instead, our
ability to
continue to uncover more of our potential is directly related to our
ability
to create value using the self-centered side, rather than allowing it
to affect
us negatively. In other words, the impact that our own
self-centeredness or
that of others will have on us is based on our response to it.

In Webster’s New World Dictionary, one of the definitions of respond
is “to have a positive or favorable reaction.” This definition accords
with Nichiren Buddhism, the Buddhism of true cause. We cannot change
the past.
In this moment, however, with our thoughts, words, and actions, we are
creating
our future. In this moment, through our actions, we have the
opportunity to
change anything and everything. Isn’t that the meaning of true cause?
We affect change by how we respond to our circumstances. For example,
rather
than an automatic negative response to difficult circumstances, we
must, like
the definition, “have a positive or favorable reaction” in order
to create the outcome we are seeking.

Many of us think that if we don’t do anything the problem will just
go
away on its own. This is not the case. Even if it seemingly goes away
temporarily,
it comes back bigger and stronger.

President Ikeda explains: “The strength of our mind of faith changes
suffering
into joy, into a tailwind to propel our further advance. This is what
the ‘Devadatta’
chapter teaches. Nichiren Daishonin says: ‘Devadatta was the foremost
good friend to the Thus Come One Shakyamuni. In this age as well, it
is not
one’s allies but one’s powerful enemies who assist one’s progress’
(WND, 770).

To attain Buddhahood, we have to thoroughly conquer our own inner
evil. The
concrete means for doing so is struggling against and defeating
external evil.
Struggling to defeat evil enables us to polish and purify our lives
and attain
Buddhahood. Because we strive against the ultimate evil, we attain the
ultimate
good” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. III, p. 84).

In other words, the oneness of good and evil means that where evil
exists,
there is the potential for good, and where good exists, there is the
potential
for evil. Whether evil is transformed into something good is totally
dependent
upon our reaction to evil. Do we use our circumstances as
a justification for
our failure, or do we use our circumstances as an opportunity to
develop our
strength? When we challenge evil with the spirit that we will create
something
of value out of it, then evil functions to propel us forward. It
becomes the
catalyst for our growth. “If evil functions to reveal good, then evil
in its entirety becomes good. This is truly the oneness of good and
evil. But
if evil is simply allowed to run its course, then it does not become
good. Only
when evil is thoroughly challenged and conquered does it become an
entity of
the oneness of good and evil” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol.
III,
p. 83).

Art by Seleus

In addition to our individual lives, this principle also applies to
the situation
we are facing with Nichiren Shoshu. We live during a historic time, a
time when
we have the opportunity to prove the correctness of Nichiren Buddhism
by the
way we respond. Nikken is changing Nichiren’s teachings by
proclaiming,
for example, that people can only attain enlightenment by going
through him.
Are we going to permit Nikken to change the teachings, or are we,
through our
efforts, going to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to practice
Buddhism
correctly as taught by Nichiren? Are we going to prove that Nikken is
wrong
by showing the undeniable growth of the lives of SGI members
throughout the
world?

Happiness, from the perspective of Nichiren Buddhism, is not a state
of life
in which there are no problems. Instead, happiness is to be found in
challenging
and winning over our problems. I believe that the happiness we seek is
the feeling
that occurs whenever we cross that finish line, in spite of the fact
that our
heart is pounding, our feet hurt, and our lungs feel as if they are
about to
explode. That feeling of triumph against all odds is a state of pure
joy that
no one can give us, no matter how much they might love us. It is a
state that
we can achieve only through our own efforts.

This state of happiness is also greatly enhanced through our efforts
to help
others. I continually find that whenever I do my best to encourage
another person
in faith, no matter how I am feeling, my life-condition is positively
transformed.
Giving to others expands our own lives in wonderful, sometimes
unimaginable
ways.

We must, therefore, perfect our practice for ourselves and for
others. Both
aspects are essential parts of our practice. Not only must we
challenge our
own weaknesses, we must use our lives to help others win. For example,
do we
take the responsibility to help our friends in faith have a victory?
Do we pray
to make this happen? Maximum growth requires that we perfect both
parts of our
practice.

In this regard, I must mention that I have recently met many members
who are
stuck in what I call a maintenance practice. They are comfortable,
even if it
means being comfortable with being uncomfortable. They have lost their
seeking
spirit, the will to seek out challenges. They have no personal goals.
This is
a dangerous condition because, from my own experience, it robs us of
our passion
and enthusiasm for life. We are not even aware of what is happening at
first.
By the time we are conscious that our lives are missing something, our
apathy
has become highly developed, and it seems almost impossible to change.

There is no neutral gear in life. We are either going forward or
backward at
every moment. We need goals. They make us alive and deepen our
understanding
of this Buddhism. After all, how can we see change if there is no
standard by
which to measure growth? Challenging and achieving goals are the means
we use
to prove to ourselves as well as to others the power of the Mystic
Law.

I believe that the challenge facing every human being is the ability
to truly
love and believe in oneself. What I have learned as a result of facing
my insecurities
and fears during the process of writing this article is that I do not
need to rid myself of weakness. Instead, I must train myself to learn
how to
use it as my motivation to create positive change in my life. The
power to make
this possible is sincere prayer based on a powerful determination.
Prayer makes
what we normally would consider impossible into something possible.

I’m sure you are all familiar with the song “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Negativity self-centered-ness and obstacles can be the wind beneath
our wings
that propels us to soar even higher. Viewing challenges this way may
require
rethinking the way we live our lives. I am convinced, however, that
living this
way is the key to experiencing a joyflul, fulfilled existence; one in
which we
will come to know and believe that Nam myoho-renge-kyo is life itself.

Success is triumphing over challenges. We must challenge ourselves to
do everything
we think we cannot do. Only then will we truly come to know that we
have nothing
to fear because, with the Mystic Law as our foundation, we can
transform any
weakness into strength. That being so, I think you and I are perfect
just the
way we are.

Mar 27, 2011

Today I’d like to talk to you about how to make your prayers
as effective as possible.
Firstly, it is very important to set clear goals. If you are
sick, your
goal will be to get better as quickly as possible; if you have
problems
with human relationships, you will want to get over these as
soon as
possible; and if you have financial difficulties, then of
course you
should be setting goals accordingly.

Once you have decided on the goal, the most important thing to
do next
is make a strong determination: ‘Whatever happens, I
absolutely
will attain that goal’. A firm determination like this is very
important. The next stage, of course, is prayer. And after
chanting
daimoku, the next step necessary is to take action in order to
realize
your goal. Of course, after we’ve done all that, we know what
the effect will be: actual proof. If we do not achieve the
goal we have
set then, in certain cases, we may need to review the
determination,
set a new goal, and once again strive to achieve it.

Why we need to prayThere are three reasons why we should pray. Firstly,
so we
can have the same wisdom as the Buddha. Secondly, so that we
can have
life-force, in other words the energy, the courage, to take
action.
Thirdly, so that we can benefit from the protection of the
shoten zenjin,
the Buddhist ‘gods’, the protective functions within the
universe.

One point I’d like to make sure that you really understand, is
that the shoten zenjin only start to take action and protect
us when
we ourselves undertake action. So, in order for us to achieve a
goal,
we need to act. We need to move. We need to make efforts. And
it is
important that our actions and our efforts are the best we can
possibly
undertake. To ensure that our actions and efforts are
efficient, we
need wisdom. Furthermore, if we are to attain the goal we have
set ourselves,
we need to make constant efforts – and we also need courage.

So we pray to the Gohonzon to have the wisdom to take the
best, most
efficient action possible; to have the life-force to make
constant efforts;
and to attract the protection of the shoten zenjin when we
take an action.
However, even if we chant ever so hard, it will be very
difficult to
boil that pot of spaghetti unless we take action. And to make
sure that
we not only boil the spaghetti, but that it is al dente, we
need wisdom
and we need experience.

Quality of prayerThe quality of our prayer is also extremely
important. For
example, someone who is sick may simply pray to overcome their
illness.
Or they may pray to regain their health in order to fight for
kosen
rufu. There is a very big difference between these two types
of prayer.

To take another example, suppose there’s a couple who have
been
unable to have children, despite trying for a long time. While
they
may be chanting to have a child as soon as possible, what are
their
reasons for wanting a child? Are their reasons purely
personal, because
it would make them happy, because they want to have children?
Or are
they chanting to have a child do that they can bring this
child up to
become someone who will be a capable person for kosen rufu?
There is
a huge difference between these two in terms of quality of
prayer.

The reason it is very important for us to focus on the quality
of our
prayer is that President Ikeda has said that true and sincere
prayers
for kosen rufu (not prayers aimed dimply at justifying our own
point
of view) will be answered without fail.

Taking actionVery often, however, members chant a lot of daimoku
but do
not take any action. Some people don’t take action because
they
are afraid of the results they might see. They are afraid that
they
won’t see the result they want, so they don’t take any action.
For example, a salaried employee with a fixed income might
want to become
self-employed, or start his or her own business, but might not
take
any action for fear of accumulating a lot of debt.

Another common example is found amongst young people who want
to get
married. Because they’re not sure that the marriage will work
out, and that they will live happily ever after, they are full
of anxiety.
So, before they get married, they think, “Well, maybe we
should
live together.” Some end up not getting married as a result of
having lived together.

So, even when people chant a lot of daimoku, other factors
such as personality
and human character come into play and prevent people from
taking action,
even if they are praying.
Of course, taking action also includes Soka Gakkai activities.
When
you participate in Soka Gakkai activities, you are encouraging
others.
So you are actually working as a messenger of the Buddha.
Inevitably,
therefore, all those who participate in Gakkai activities will
accumulate
good fortune. And because these people accumulate good
fortune, they
will be able to achieve their goals and show actual proof.

I know that all of us have very different circumstances and
situations
– some of us may not have that much free time. Nevertheless, I
really want to encourage all of you to participate in Gakkai
activities
because this will allow not only you, but your whole family,
to be bathed
in good fortune. So in order to achieve our goals, not only do
we need
to take concrete action, we also need good fortune. That is
why Soka
Gakkai activities are crucial.

Make up your mindIn Italy, we have a couple who have been living
together for
fourteen years. Once they came to me because they wanted to
receive
guidance. I said to them, “You’ve been trying out your
relationship
by living together for fourteen years now. The fact that it
has continued
this long, is this not a sign that it is working?

Even though their relationship had been successful and they
still wanted
to live together, they still weren’t sure whether they should
get married. Of course I gave them all kinds of encouragement,
but there
is one particular point that I would like to share with you. I
asked
them, “In order to make a firm determination, how much time do
you need?” To make a determination requires less than one
second.
So I asked, “How many seconds there have been in fourteen
years?”

You may laugh at this story but please, reflect on your own
life.
To sum up, to put Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism into practice,
we need to decide, chant and take action.

FAITH AND PRACTICE DOUBT-FREE FAITH
DECIDE

Clarify the goal and make a determination

DECIDE CHANT CHANT
If you have a problem,
Chant one million daimoku

ACT ACT
Make maximum effort;
strive to resolve the problem

EXPERIENCE
Accumulating experiences deepens one’s faith
Theories without experiences are
no more than pure idealism

Mar 24, 2011

Mar 16, 2011

The following is
SGI President Ikeda’s message to those affected by the March 11
earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. The message originally appeared
in the March 16 edition of the Seikyo Shimbun, the Soka Gakkai’s daily newspaper.

I offer my sincerest condolences to those of you who have been
affected by the

devastating earthquake and tsunamis that struck
northeastern Japan five days ago

(March 11) and have left many
people still missing and unaccounted for. I can

only imagine the
fatigue and exhaustion you must be suffering. My wife and I,

along
with the members throughout Japan and the world, are sending daimoku

[Nam-myoho-renge-kyo]
to you with all our hearts, earnestly praying for your

health and
well-being, and that all Buddhas and bodhisattvas—the positive forces

of
the universe—will rigorously protect you. I wish to deeply thank those
of you who are selflessly devoting yourselves to the rescue and
relief efforts in the stricken areas. I also truly appreciate those of you
who are supporting your communities as solid and reliable pillars
during this difficult time.

Takuboku Ishikawa, a renowned, youthful
poet who hailed from Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan,
declared: “Helping one person is a far greater achievement than
becoming the ruler of a country.” I, therefore, express my deepest
respect and gratitude to all of you.

Nichiren Daishonin writes that
even if we should meet with disasters and calamities, they cannot
destroy our hearts (see The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 2,
p. 135). Nothing can destroy the treasures of the heart. Every adversity
is but a trial for us to overcome so that we can attain eternal
happiness. Nichiren Buddhism, our practice of faith in the Mystic
Law, enables us to transform all poison into medicine without fail. I
am offering solemn prayers for all your loved ones—family members and friends—who
have lost their lives. This disaster is truly heartbreaking.

Life, however,
is eternal, and through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, we can transcend
life and death to connect with the lives of those who have passed away.
Your deceased loved ones and friends, who through you share a
profound connection with the Mystic Law, will definitely be enfolded
in the embrace of the heavenly deities, attain Buddhahood and be
reborn quickly somewhere close to you. This is an essential teaching
of Nichiren Buddhism. During the Daishonin’s lifetime as well, what was
known as the great earthquake of the Shoka era (August 1257) caused
unprecedented damage.

Grieved by the pain and suffering of the
people and amid great persecutions, the Daishonin embarked on
writing his treatise, “On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the
Peace of the Land,” thereby raising the banner of peace and justice for
all humankind. He assures us: “When great evil occurs, great good follows”
(WND-1, 1119).

Today, March 16, is the day that my mentor, second
Soka Gakkai president Josei Toda, entrusted his youthful successors
with carrying on the work of kosen-rufu in order to eradicate misery
from the face of the earth. Now, let us triumphantly overcome this
great disaster by further strengthening our vow for kosen-rufu while
wholeheartedly supporting and encouraging each other. I am
fervently praying and calling out to each of you: “Never be defeated!
Have courage! Have hope!”

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About Me

My SGI Lotus Flower Blog: Spreading the wonders and joy of Nichiren Buddhism through articles, experiences, art, music, film, comedy and pop culture. For beginners to long time members, I hope this blog serves you well. Like the Lotus Flower we can bloom right where we are.

My Art By Seleus Blog: I've been drawing since I was 5. I've done live nude drawings, oil paintings, sketching, digital art and graphic design. I love to mainly draw female portraits. I love caricature, illustration, pop art, pin-ups and vector art. I attended the School of Visual Arts for awhile and my favorite Artist is Al Hirshfeld. A diehard Hitchcock, Wonder Woman, Classic Film fan.

"Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law? Strengthen your power of faith more than ever."

True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances.

Disclaimer

The opinions, thoughts and artwork expressed here are solely my own (unless otherwise noted).The photos on this site explain my feelings about the practice in a visual way. The inner artist in me thought that by merging beautiful guidance with art, music, film, humor and pop culture- I can move and tap into another part of ourselves. How can I convey these pearls of wisdom in a way that I can understand more. The graphics are for also for entertainment purposes to invoke laughter and smiles to our hearts. They are not to be taken seriously. But my practice I take seriously. Its not my intention to offend anyone. I claim no ownership or copyright of any of the images posted except those taken and created by me. If you are the owner of a specific image & would like it removed, please email & I will do so promptly. This is a non-official SGI site and I will try my best to provide the sources.

Comments

Comments are welcomed and encouraged. All views can be expressed and will be posted. The comments that won't be posted are those that are of a nasty and vulgar nature. Those comments will not be tolerated. This is not a free for all to be abusive.